It would take 5 trucks to load an unbelievable amount of luxury handbags, jewellery and cash in what appears to be the biggest confiscation in the history of the country. Malaysia former Prime Minister Najib Razak is in such deep trouble that he had resorted to taking a photo with his aged mother, the widow of second Prime Minister Abdul Razak, to gain sympathy.

Mr. Najib who lost the 14th general election on May 9th had tried to flee under the pretext of spending time with family. But Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is now in charge of the country for the second time after ruling the country from 1981 to 2003, knew all the tricks and had barred the corrupt Najib from leaving the country.

As locksmiths continue to crack open a stubborn safe in Najib’s house at Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta, where the entrance and exit points were cordoned off days ago, the Royal Malaysia Police have a very successful catch of the day elsewhere. Luxury condominium – Pavilion Residences – has attracted curious onlookers since midnight.

The police operation, which concurrently have raided 6 premises since Wednesday around the capital of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya – including the Prime Minister’s Office – saw truck after truck being brought to the loading bay of Pavilion Residences. The luxury condominium was one of the three premises at the Pavilion Residences Apartment being “checked” by the police.

An eye-popping 284 boxes containing handbags, believed to be belonging to Rosmah Mansor, have been confiscated. During a press conference at the luxury condominium where the operation by Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) was carried out, its director Amar Singh has confirmed that Hermes Birkin is one of many luxurious brands of handbags being seized.

On top of the hundreds of designer handbags, the police was also flabbergasted at the total value of the seizures which also included 72 luggage and carrier bags of cash and jewellerystored in the condominium unit. Mr. Amar Singh said – “This is one of the three premises at the Pavilion Residences Apartment being checked by the CCID. We don’t have the details on the total amount. A lot!!”

While confirming the cash seized was of various currencies, the CCID director, however, refused to comment when asked if the jewellery includes gold bars. There are speculations that the safe in Najib’s residence probably contains gold bars and diamonds, including the 22-carat pink diamond necklace worth a staggering US$27 million bought using money stolen from 1MDB.

Najib’s lawyer Harpal Singh Grewal has claimed the key to the safe in Najib’s residence has been misplaced. The raid at Najib’s house is being conducted based on the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2001. CCID director Mr. Amar Singh confirmed that the raids on the premises are related to an investigation into 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) scandal involving Najib.

Two days ago, there were reports of government-owned trucks being misused to transport “mysterious boxes” to the same luxury condominium along Jalan Raja Chulan. Those boxes could be the same boxes of designer handbags being seized during the latest operation. What this means is Rosmah was desperately trying to hide her collection of Hermes Birkin handbags.

There were also reports of police forced to bring in a machine to count money, suggesting the cash seized is substantial. While former premier Najib Razak is known to practice “cash is king” policy, his wife Rosmah Mansor has in many occasions proudly displayed her Hermes Birkin handbags together with expensive watches and gems.

As far back as 2012, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Rosmah spent about AUD100,000 at Sydney fashion designer Carl Kapp boutique. After dropping the money for 61 dresses, pants and tops, she became Kapp’s biggest customer and was awarded “First Lady Of Shopping” by the boutique. Kapp said – ”She was absolutely gracious and very easy to deal with.”

Celebrity Victoria Beckham is said to own as many as100 of Hermes Birkin handbags. She was perhaps the first celebrity to own the mega-expensive Hermès Birkin Himalayan crocodile handbag, before Kim Kardashian follows the footstep. Other celebrities – Pamela Anderson, Lady Gaga, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Julia Roberts – are some of Hermès Birkin fans.

But after the confiscation of Rosmah’s collection of Hermes Birkin handbags by the police, there’s a good chance that Malaysia’s former First Lady could snatch the title from celebrities as the biggest owner of Hermes. Selling at more than US$20,000 a pop for the cheapest range, Birkins are the most sought after bag in the world, due to its investment value.

Last year, a matte white Himalaya Niloticus crocodile diamond Birkin 30 handbag was sold in Hong Kong for over US$377,000 – a new world record. Auction house Christie’s said the Hermes bag, which boasts 18 karat white gold and diamond hardware, was purchased by an “unidentified buyer” after15 minutes of “intense” bidding.

Himalayan Birkins are considered the rarest, most sought-after handbags in the world. While Hermes won’t say how many they make, Christie’s believe only one or two are produced each year due to the painstaking and lengthy hours in its dyeing process. Even if you have the money, buying one is extremely difficult. The auction house said there is a 6-year waiting list to buy a new one.

You can’t simply walk into a store to buy a Birkin. You have to have a purchase history at the store to just get started. Even then, Hermès Birkin needs to “interview you”, assess how serious you are about spending, and then you go on their list. It would be interesting to see if the seizure of designer handbags from Rosmah’s collection include Himalayan Birkins.

Rosmah’s collection of designer handbags, on top of Hermes Birkin, are believed to be from Chanel, Versace, Gucci, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, Michael Kors, Dolce Gabbana, Louis Vuitton, Loewe and Piana Clerico, among others. Designer watches of various brands, not to mention gems, stones and whatnot.